After finishing their noodles, the two returned to the Ministry of Personnel. Shang Xuanwen was taking a lunch break at the Capital Hall, while Yan Qing took a stroll around the Ministry of Personnel, even spotting the side door Shang Xinlei ntioned. He calculated the distance, confirming that it was indeed possible to dash to the Capital Hall within five minutes.
In the afternoon, Yan Qing switched back to Jiang Shi’s account to continue farming the Secret Realm. How should I say this? Gai Louxian seed to have let Jiang Shiyi Si loose. Now they could farm the Secret Realm seven or eight tis a day. The support soldiers only needed to move the most important goods during their breaks, allowing them to continue farming. In the past, Gai Louxian strictly prohibited such ’extravagant and wasteful’ behavior.
After farming three tis, Yan Qing got a bit tired. Holding the dual sabers in the open field—right hand holding the Bingzi Pepper Forest, left hand the Autumn Ink—he attempted to comprehend the Basic Dual Saber Technique. Since the Dual Saber Technique is a derivative of saber techniques, and with the milestone bonus from being a Martial Arts Genius, although he hadn’t entered the beginner’s stage after two days of training, he at least handled the dual sabers more fluidly than at the beginning.
His stomach was about ready for so food, so Yan Qing first checked what Jiang Shi was eating before switching back to the Mouse Monk’s account, finding that Shang Xuanwen was still at the Capital Hall and hadn’t finished work yet.
Never one to accommodate Shang Xuanwen’s schedule, he directly entered and asked, "Ti for dinner."
"Go ahead. I don’t eat after noon."
"Didn’t you have a family dinner last night?"
"Exceptions are made only for family dinners."
Seeing how things were, Yan Qing left the Capital Hall, thinking that if the noodle shop from noon was still open, he’d let the Mouse Monk wear a hat and buy a bowl of beef fried noodles.
But before long, Yan Qing returned to the Capital Hall again, perhaps because Shang Xuanwen was so easy to talk to, or maybe Yan Qing was truly curious. He directly said to Shang Xuanwen:
"I know about Fourth Miss Shang’s friend Qian Gongyu."
Shang Xuanwen stopped writing and raised his head, glanced at the sky outside, and turned the turquoise lamp on his desk, which unexpectedly lit up—clearly a mystical item from the Secret Realm.
"A Chancellor, really only capable of using such clandestine tricks? Do you genuinely think Qian Gongyu won’t eventually figure it out?"
"I don’t fear her finding out," Shang Xuanwen replied. "She might resent , but she’ll also rely on Xinlei and everything Xinlei helps her with. Resentnt and grievances can be compensated for afterward. People are quite forgetful."
"But don’t you see that this behavior might alienate your family?" Yan Qing asked. "With your intelligence, can’t you conceive a more appropriate way? Qian Gongyu is a friend of your daughter."
Shang Xuanwen cast a scornful glance at the Mouse Monk, his face showing a hint of mockery: "After discussing state affairs with at noon, you start doubting my decisions at night? Has the Great Monk so quickly taken the role of Pri Minister of the Liang Kingdom?"
After a pause, he asked, "Would you like to know why I value you so highly?"
Yan Qing felt a stirring in his heart, Shang Xuanwen’s change of topic was excellently tid, and he was indeed curious. re ’savior’ wouldn’t justify such exemplary ntorship.
Shang Xuanwen touched his right ear, revealing an ear stud, behind which hung a small bell that emitted no sound.
"Heart-Seeking Bell, an ordinary token, its function should rely be to sense others’ hostility, but after wearing it, I’ve been able to vaguely hear the unspoken intentions in others’ words, even hear their true intentions beneath their words."
Yan Qing’s eyes widened, thinking to himself, could such a token exist in "ssenger"? Last night’s information from Shang Xinlei was entirely accurate, yet—
"Why tell ?"
"Because, Great Monk, you are one of the few whose hostility I can’t detect, nor any insincere words—your heart is pure, like glass," Shang Xuanwen said calmly. "In decades, I’ve only t a few like you. They all know my secret yet have kept it till now, so I trust you’ll keep it too."
Yan Qing blinked, contemplating. Now he roughly understood the situation.
Of course, Shang Xuanwen would find the Mouse Monk sincere. It’s because the soul (Yan Qing) and the body (Mouse Monk) aren’t in the sa place! Shang Xuanwen sees the Mouse Monk as a soulless puppet; discerning insincerity is impossible.
It’s no wonder he values the Mouse Monk so much, as most people in the world are insincere, only children speak without concealnt. Shang Xuanwen interacting with others is akin to navigating a webpage full of incessantly popping-up ads, frustratingly unable to close them, while interacting with the Mouse Monk is like navigating a clean, unobtrusive webpage, naturally valuing the latter more.
"Having listened to heart’s true voices for so many years, I’ve long had no expectations for so-called ’unity of will.’ Parents, siblings, spouses, children—regardless of how close the relationship, there will inevitably be resentnt, division," Shang Xuanwen said calmly. "I just need to do what I believe is right."
Yan Qing felt moved. Shang Xuanwen’s comnt last night about eagerly anticipating a quiet family dinner turned out to be genuine.
"So what’s right is knowing your daughter’s friend is being frad yet taking the opportunity to sche for family interest?" Yan Qing asked.
"Frad?" Shang Xuanwen raised an eyebrow. "How can you be sure she’s being frad? Isn’t Lin Yuan, who went missing, a guard of the Qian Family? He’s related to the murder case, how can the Qian Family escape responsibility?"
"Because it was clearly—"
"Noble families in the Liang Kingdom receive many benefits, but they also bear various responsibilities, controlling servants being the least significant," Shang Xuanwen interrupted him. "Do you think the Qian Family is blaless?"
"But what about the truth? The mastermind behind the framing?" Yan Qing frowned. "Punishing the Qian Family without pursuing the mastermind behind the sche—isn’t this akin to an unethical law?"
Shang Xuanwen looked at him coldly, and Yan Qing didn’t avert his gaze from the screen, continuing to confront him through the Mouse Monk.
Suddenly, Shang Xuanwen stood up, and the turquoise lamp projected a giant shadow of him on the wall, making Yan Qing think he might retaliate. However, Shang Xuanwen simply turned to the bookshelf and pulled out a book, tossing it to the Mouse Monk.
"Page thirteen."
Yan Qing opened it to see it was the Left Cavalry Guard’s roster, with page thirteen containing information about a Xiaoqi Guard nad Yang Xia, Second-Turn ssenger, possessing several investigative tokens, skilled in tracing and tracking. This person hails from a noble family but was imprisoned for murder, only released due to the general amnesty upon the new emperor’s ascension. Logically, he would have too many blemishes to join such an essential departnt as the Left Cavalry Guard, yet he’s been steadily promoted.
Yan Qing thought to himself, Shang Xinlei indeed said it right—Shang Xuanwen prefers employing such flawed individuals, finding rit in misconduct.
"I’ve already dispatched him to search for the fleeing Lin Yuan. Once found, the truth will naturally co to light; even if the corpse is found, it can determine who killed him." Shang Xuanwen said, "Although I already know who the mastermind is—the Quan Family and Lin Family are ready to make compensation, just waiting for to catch their trail."
"What?" Yan Qing thought he had misheard.
"For noble families, law is rely a clearly priced nu; committing cris is permissible as long as the price is paid." Shang Xuanwen stood by the window, gazing at the Ministry of Personnel outside. "Just like Qian Gongyu only needs to give a year and lend the token; they can also pay a greater cost to compensate the Court. They are willing to negotiate with the Court this way."
"This kind of law doesn’t sound just."
"What do you think law is? Heavenly law that everyone will unconditionally carry out once proclaid?" Shang Xuanwen shook his head. "Do you think anyone cares about the truth? Officials only want to finish work early, constables want more money, noble families want superiority. Without benefits, how can you get them to uphold the law?"
"Liang Taizu issued twelve jade laws back in the day, forming the keel of the Liang Kingdom’s massive ship. I rely on these laws, these nails, to barely patch the holes on the ship. From Liang Taizu to , it’s just to let these ssengers heed the existence of the law; as for making them fear it, that’s not sothing a southern-focused country can achieve."
"You believe I am unkind to Qian Gongyu, but after this incident, won’t she beco more vigilant about managing her servants?" Shang Xuanwen asked the Mouse Monk: "Controlling one person in her allows for controlling more in the future, thus slightly reducing the pressure from the Qian Family on countless civilians. The Quan and Chen Families are no different. If cri involves a cost, they must consider if it’s worthwhile."
The Mouse Monk fell silent, seemingly contemplating how to counter. Shang Xuanwen also remained silent, not receiving a reply for a long ti, then said: "Only a day in the residence, and you’ve already discerned this matter. Your intelligence-gathering skills aren’t weak."
"Coincidence."
"You’ve t my approval; I’ll arrange for you to join the Secret Realm Military Town in a few days, to train in the Secret Realm."
Yan Qing froze, couldn’t help but say, "Because I talked too much? Simply toss aside where I won’t trouble you?"
Shang Xuanwen ignored Yan Qing’s playful banter and calmly stated: "You have compassion for civilians and indignation for noble families."
"When you wield power in the future, I hope you’ll maintain your original intentions."
...
...
In the early morning hours, at the Thief’s House.
Due to task timing, etings for the next three days will occur in the early morning hours; the thieves also took the opportunity to adjust their schedules.
Last night, Shang Xinlei proposed a plan to steal from the Royal Secret Vault, which Pharmacist’s Wish and Ying Rushi did not hastily agree to—they returned ho to consider it further. Tonight, they plan to continue discussing the details. If there’s an eighty percent chance of success... they intend to go for it.
However, Yan Qing stunned everyone at the start.
"I might be able to steal the Heaven-Swaying Sword directly."
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